The Manhattan District Attorney will stop prosecuting cases of prostitution and unlicensed massage and launch thousands of orders dating back to 1975.
DA Cyrus Vance Jr. appeared virtually Wednesday in Manhattan Criminal Court to ask Judge Charlotte Davidson to quash 5,994 bank orders and dismiss the underlying charges of prostitution, unlicensed massage and vagrancy for the purpose of prostitution.
The motion was granted and the cases dating back to 1975 were withdrawn.
For years, the Manhattan DA has provided services and programs to people facing these charges.
“Now, we will decline to process these arrests directly, providing services and support only on a voluntary basis,” said Vance, who added that his office is the first in the state to take that step.
Eric Gonzalez’s Brooklyn, DA’s office also declines to prosecute cases of prostitution, but only after offering services to defendants, a spokesman said.
“This announcement demonstrates that the Manhattan DA is committed to changing its focus on the sex trade by decriminalizing people in prostitution and supporting those most at risk of exploitation,” said the Rev. Dr. That English from New York State. Coalition against trafficking.
Cecilia Gentili, founder of Transgender Equity Consulting, praised the new policy.
“This determined action to actively decriminalize sex workers is the kind of change our community has been waiting for and advocating for decades,” he said.
The bulk of Manhattan’s layoffs have been linked to the arrow in prostitution cases (called the Walking While Trans Act), which advocates have long claimed are aimed unfairly at minorities.
Earlier this year, the state legislature withdrew the controversial statute from its books.
In response, the DAs of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx moved to vacate the warranties arising from this charge and dismiss all open cases.
Most city police officers had stopped prosecuting the crime years before it was repealed.
A Richmond County spokesman Michael McMahon previously told The Post that his office would remain the same.
